Children may not be as interested as adults are in the fashion aspect of Sunglasses. But because kids spend much more time than most adults outdoors and in direct sunlight, UV protection for the eyes is extra important.

In fact, many experts believe our eyes get 80 percent of their total lifetime exposure to the sun's UV rays by age 18. And since excessive lifetime exposure to UV radiation has been linked to the development of cataracts and other eye problems, it's never too early for kids to begin wearing good-quality sunglasses outdoors.

As long as the glasses lenses are clearly marked as capable of providing 100 percent UV protection, your children can pick any lens color and shade they like.

Sunglasses Styles for Kids
The colorful, adolescent styles are still available, but sunglass companies have found a niche in appealing to children's desire to look like their parents or older siblings.

Oval, round, rectangular, cat-eye, and geometric shapes are all popular in cool, sophisticated colors like green, blue, tortoise, and black. Metal frames are very popular, but so are plastic sunglass frames that look like scaled-down versions of trendy adult styles. Also, sporty styles for kids like wraparounds are available in miniature adult editions.

Where To Get Kids' Sunglasses
The best places to find kids' sunglasses are sunglass specialty stores like Cheapglasses123.com, and your local optical shop.

Now there is also an Online Eyeglasses Store that sells cheap glasses and discount eyeglasses. Because their price can be half of what the traditional optical store sells for, it can be a very attractive alternative for kids glasses, and kids' sunglasses.

Some opticians even specialize in children's sunglasses and eyeglasses and have dedicated areas just for kids to play and shop for their frames.

Wherever you go, look for a good selection of sunglass frames scaled specifically for a child's facial dimensions and a professional staff experienced in fitting children's eyewear.

Top Five Trends in Kids' Sunglasses
1. Styling that mimics that of adult sunglasses — cool, sophisticated, and trendy.
2. Modern plastic styles in rich colors (no more bubble-gum colors).
3. Sports eyeglasses in scaled-down versions of adult styles.
4. Clip-on sunglasses for children's prescription eyeglasses. Clip-on are readily available and reasonably priced. Instead of attaching with metal clips (which can scratch eyeglass lenses), you can now also buy sunglasses with magnetic clip-on.
5. Brand name appeal. Kids are becoming nearly as brand-conscious as their parents and older siblings. Major eyewear manufacturers have teamed up with Disney, popular cartoons, and young celebrities to create eyewear and sunglasses made for and appealing specifically to children.

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